Lead Program Support Specialist

Kids for the Future; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with employer match

Flexible time off

Professional development

Job summary

VPD Government Solutions in Arlington, VA is seeking a Lead Program Support Specialist to serve as the senior grants management advisor for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. You will provide technical leadership for discretionary grant administration, program oversight, compliance monitoring, recipient engagement, and customer service activities.

The role coordinates complex grants management tasks, guides project staff, supports quality improvement initiatives, and serves as a senior

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of progressive professional experience related to early childhood programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level grants management and programmatic support for Head Start and Early Head Start grants.
• Coordinate daily operational support activities for assigned Regional Office(s).
• Review and analyze grant applications, budget modifications, and change-in-scope requests.
• Support grant award processing, post-award administration, and grant closeout activities.
• Conduct analyses of program performance reports, monitoring findings, and Quality Improvement Plans.
• Monitor recipient performance and identify programmatic, fiscal, operational, and compliance risks.
• Prepare reports, memoranda, correspondence, presentations, and analytical products.
• Provide technical assistance to grant recipients and Federal staff.
• Participate in monitoring reviews, risk assessments, onsite visits, and follow-up activities.
• Support national initiatives including FEI, Change in Scope, under-enrollment, and child incident activities.
• Develop training materials, SOPs, and process improvement recommendations.
• Mentor Program Support Specialists and ensure compliance with applicable requirements.

Job description

• Location 1621 S Hayes St Apt A,Arlington, VA, 22202-5558,United States
• Base Pay $75,000.00 - $95,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type FT Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

The Lead Program Support Specialist serves as the senior operational and grants management advisor supporting the Office of Head Start (OHS) Regional Office(s). This position provides technical leadership for discretionary grant administration, program oversight, compliance monitoring, recipient engagement, and customer service activities supporting Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grants. The Lead Program Support Specialist coordinates complex grants management activities, provides technical guidance to project staff, supports continuous quality improvement initiatives, and serves as a senior resource to Federal staff on grant administration, program performance, and operational priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level grants management and programmatic support for Head Start and Early Head Start grants.
• Coordinate daily operational support activities for assigned OHS Regional Office(s).
• Review and analyze grant applications, supplemental funding requests, budget modifications, and change-in-scope requests.
• Support grant award processing, post-award administration, and grant closeout activities.
• Conduct analyses of program performance reports, monitoring findings, Quality Improvement Plans, and recipient documentation.
• Monitor recipient performance and identify programmatic, fiscal, operational, and compliance risks.
• Prepare reports, memoranda, correspondence, presentations, and analytical products.
• Provide technical assistance to grant recipients and Federal staff.
• Participate in monitoring reviews, risk assessments, onsite visits, and follow-up activities.
• Support national initiatives including FEI, Change in Scope, under-enrollment, and child incident activities.
• Develop training materials, SOPs, and process improvement recommendations.
• Mentor Program Support Specialists and ensure compliance with HHS, ACF, OHS, and contract requirements.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of progressive professional experience directly related to early childhood programs, with a preference for Head Start/Early Head Start programs.
• Experience with federal discretionary grants management, non-profit or for-profit program and/or financial management, and regulatory compliance monitoring and oversight.
• Demonstrated ability in utilizing a variety of web-based and off-the- shelf data management software packages.
• Demonstrated ability to aggregate, analyze, and present data gathered from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and produce high-quality written products such as memoranda, presentations, and correspondence.
• At least 2 years supervisory experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting OHS or ACF.
• Experience with HSES, AMS, GrantSolutions, and Smartsheet.
• Experience supporting Head Start monitoring reviews, FEI, Change in Scope, and technical assistance.
• Experience developing training and process improvements.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Summary

Why work for VPD?

• VPD is proud to be a certified Great Place to Work in 2022-2023 & 2025 and named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America for 2025! See more about what our employees think! Working at VPD Government Solutions | Great Place to Work
• Robust employee benefits package beginning on 1st of the month following hire date including health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401(k) with 5% employer matching
• Flexible time off program
• Opportunities for professional development
• Employee-centric work culture including company sponsored events, happy hours, and team-building opportunities, frequent communications/information sharing from Leadership, supportive and positive teamwork environment, "open door" policy, etc.

VPD is Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• VPD Uses E-Verify - Right to Work Poster

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

• EEOC Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
• EEO is the Law - Federal Contractors/Subcontractors
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act

Additional Information

• Remote, Hybrid, or Onsite? Hybrid
• What type of citizenship does your contract require? U.S. Citizen